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Stephanie J Thompson

exploring sacred connections with God and each otherr

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How You Can Help a Family With a Child Who is Affected by Mental Illness

September 27, 2017 by Stephanie 6 Comments

Families with a child affected by a mental/neurological disorder often live a chaotic and stress filled existence. Often, the struggle is invisible to the public. Unknown to even neighbors, a series of chronic storms erupt inside the home. Furthermore, stigmas make seeking support challenging. Parents struggle to give time to all of their children as […]

Filed Under: Help! This was not in the book! Tagged With: anxiety, child, food, gift cards.pizza, help, love, medical, Mental Illness, neighbors, siblings, struggle

Why Changing Our Expectations Results in Blessing Others

June 7, 2017 by Stephanie 2 Comments

As I watched my youngest graduate from Junior High School, my heart was torn.  It was not for the reasons you might assume. While I felt joy in the celebration of these kids (many of whom I have known since preschool), I wrestled with the sadness coming from witnessing behaviors minutes before which have become […]

Filed Under: Sacred Connections Tagged With: annoying, audience, blessing, bumper sticker, celebrate, Christian, compassionate, convenience, covenant, driving, graduation, humanity, humble, Jesus, light, love, love your neighbor, milestone, mourn, omission, politics, retaliation, saving seats, shine, sin, standing in line, transform, tresspasses, waiting

The Hard Work of Being Neighbors

November 14, 2016 by Stephanie 4 Comments

On November 9,the day after the Presidential election I woke up to a raw reality.A tidal wave of voices-loud, vulnerable, celebratory, discouraged, respectful, disrespectful, urban, rural, old, young, male, female-washed over our shared land of Earthly citizenship.  The feelings of divisiveness that had been bubbling below the surface for so long exploded. Americans of every political […]

Filed Under: Sacred Connections Tagged With: Americans, covenant, homes, Hospitality, Jesus, listen, lives, love, narrative, neighbor, sacrifice, story, Trump, value, voices

When the Church IS the Church

October 20, 2016 by Stephanie 1 Comment

What does the Church look like?  I’m not talking about architecture.  What does it look like?  In my last blog I pondered what it takes for people who don’t follow Christ to begin to take notice of the Church.  I believe that the Old Testament gives us a “pre-christian” understanding of community.  There is a […]

Filed Under: Sacred Connections Tagged With: Acts, body, bridge, community, daycare, felons, followers, Jesus, love, mothers, New Testament, Old Testament, teens

Why I Grieved When My Son's Friend Moved Away

April 29, 2016 by Stephanie Leave a Comment

As my son settled himself into the car seat next to me, his face told me what I had hoped wasn’t a reality. His friend had moved away. Without notice. My heart sank. For him. For Matt. And for me. You see, my youngest, is in middle school. It’s a season of so many changes: […]

Filed Under: Sacred Connections Tagged With: acceptance, Church, Creator, followers, foster, friends, identity, kids, love, middle school, move, son, value

When God’s Compassions Are Extended Through Relationship

September 14, 2014 by Stephanie Leave a Comment

How do those “compassions” manifest themselves to us? In my last post, I wrote about God providing an endless supply of compassions. “We were not completely wiped out.        His compassion is never limited.23 It is new every morning.    His faithfulness is great.” (Lam.3:22-23, God’s Word Version)   God’s compassions extend to us in many forms In May, Scott, […]

Filed Under: Help! This was not in the book!, Sacred Connections Tagged With: coffee, compassions, food, God, legacy, love, meals, mercies, provide, refuge, sharing, supply

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When my first child was born 20 plus years ago, I envisioned taking just a few years off from my role as Pastor of Youth and Family. While that didn’t exactly unfold as expected, God used my gifts and skills in other ways. Read More…

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s2thomp

Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a l Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a loaf! So good!
Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roa Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roasted turkey. We collaborated on vegan side dishes including rolls (amazing!), sauteed green beans with shallots, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and of course dessert. Thankful for her culinary coaching and help today. How is your Thansgiving?
My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded my recognition of the character of God and what it means to belong to the bold sisterhood of image bearers. I long to have their words coursing through my veins at all times.
“Are these good for baking?” asked the man sha “Are these good for baking?” asked the man sharing space in front of the bin of potatoes. I had navigated around the maze of vegetable stands in the produce department of the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon, and arrived here at this moment. As I looked up, he continued, “I’m new to this.”

 I answered his question, my mind reeling with the scenarios playing out in his life right now. He appeared in his 60’s. Did his spouse recently die? Divorce? “Sure. These are what I use. There is another bin over with more,” I replied as I pointed away from where we stood. 

My answer felt inadequate to what was conveyed seconds before. But it is what he needed. Humanity. A recognition that we see and hear each others as companions in this place wrought with both beauty and pain.

As he parted, he thanked me and I remembered: I have encountered this situation before. Another time in a different store, an elderly man asked me where to find an item and commented that he had never done the grocery shopping before. I walked away wishing I could do more than identify an aisle.

These encounters remind me that “we are all walking each other home.” At anytime, any one of us is harboring invisible struggles. None of us is immune to the realities that we live in a place this side of Heaven. 

But we have the opportunity to offer grace and love in the most ordinary of moments. We share out of what has been given to us. It’s not ours to hoard.

Read more: https://stephaniejthompson.com/2020/10/27/seeking-gods-transformation-of-our-interactions-with-others/  #graceupongrace #sacredconnections. #loveyourneighbor
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s2thomp

Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a l Oh my goodness! I made red lobster biscuits as a loaf! So good!
Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roa Lena ( who is vegan) prepared an herbed butter roasted turkey. We collaborated on vegan side dishes including rolls (amazing!), sauteed green beans with shallots, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and of course dessert. Thankful for her culinary coaching and help today. How is your Thansgiving?
My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded My recent reads. Three female authors who expanded my recognition of the character of God and what it means to belong to the bold sisterhood of image bearers. I long to have their words coursing through my veins at all times.
“Are these good for baking?” asked the man sha “Are these good for baking?” asked the man sharing space in front of the bin of potatoes. I had navigated around the maze of vegetable stands in the produce department of the grocery store on a Saturday afternoon, and arrived here at this moment. As I looked up, he continued, “I’m new to this.”

 I answered his question, my mind reeling with the scenarios playing out in his life right now. He appeared in his 60’s. Did his spouse recently die? Divorce? “Sure. These are what I use. There is another bin over with more,” I replied as I pointed away from where we stood. 

My answer felt inadequate to what was conveyed seconds before. But it is what he needed. Humanity. A recognition that we see and hear each others as companions in this place wrought with both beauty and pain.

As he parted, he thanked me and I remembered: I have encountered this situation before. Another time in a different store, an elderly man asked me where to find an item and commented that he had never done the grocery shopping before. I walked away wishing I could do more than identify an aisle.

These encounters remind me that “we are all walking each other home.” At anytime, any one of us is harboring invisible struggles. None of us is immune to the realities that we live in a place this side of Heaven. 

But we have the opportunity to offer grace and love in the most ordinary of moments. We share out of what has been given to us. It’s not ours to hoard.

Read more: https://stephaniejthompson.com/2020/10/27/seeking-gods-transformation-of-our-interactions-with-others/  #graceupongrace #sacredconnections. #loveyourneighbor
Follow on Instagram

Categories

  • Advent
  • Easter
  • five minute friday
  • Help! This was not in the book!
  • Sacred Connections

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